Members of the On Point Security team who will patrol the area over the coming weeks. (Image provided by Yolanda Tristancho)
Aug. 29, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A private security firm began patrolling the Hunters Point waterfront Thursday night as part of a community-driven effort to clamp down on high levels of anti-social behavior in the area.
On Point Security, an Astoria-based security firm, kept watch of the walkway outside Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park after being hired by a group of residents.
The security firm was brought on by residents to combat illegal racing, rave parties, and other unlawful acts being carried out at the park this summer.
The residents said that police and local politicians had not done enough to help them and they were left with no choice but to hire the firm.
More than 125 donors have raised about $8,500 as part of a Go Fund Me campaign to pay for the security at the parks over the coming weeks.
The initiative has not received the unanimous support of the community. A separate group of residents launched an online petition opposing the move out of concern that minorities from outside the area might be targeted. The petition has generated nearly 400 signatures.
On Point Security is owned and operated by Urban Upbound, a non-profit organization that works with people living in low-income housing. Urban Upbound was founded by Bishop Mitchell Taylor in 2004.
The security team will work the area every Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The initiative is expected to last until late October. There will be four security members working per shift.
Resident and organizer of the security effort Yolanda Tristancho said that more than 20 residents met with the On Point Security team before they started their shift Thursday night. She said that three people who opposed the initiative also turned up and all parties had a productive discussion about the security team’s agenda.
The residents then toured the area with the security guards, Tristancho said.
Tristancho said the first night went off peacefully and she hopes that continues for the foreseeable future.
“Everything went well and I was very pleased,” Tristancho said.
“It was a really quiet night because of the storm threat and many restaurants were closed,” she said.
Tristancho said she was impressed with the small but positive interactions the security team had with members of the public during their first night.
For example, security witnessed a Revel scooter driver cut onto a sidewalk at around 11 p.m., according to the security team’s log reports. One of the guards managed to speak to the driver about the incursion a short time later to advise that it was not permitted.
The security team then came across a group of individuals standing outside their cars and playing loud music between 56th Avenue and 57th Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. The guard asked them to lower the music and they complied, the report states.
Security also logged several cars ignoring a stop sign at 51st Avenue and Center Boulevard. Tristancho said the stop sign is routinely flouted and they will continue to highlight the issue as a safety concern.
This weekend is expected to be much busier but Tristancho said the team is well-equipped to have a constructive influence on the area.
“I have full confidence in the team and I hope that all residents and visitors can enjoy the park respectfully.”
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34 Comments
OK guys, Labor Day weekend is here. Weather forecast looks great. Good luck.
can’t wait to see how badly this goes. They have 0 authority to approach anyone let alone try to stop anything. I don’t know when everyone started to hate the NYPD but I look forward to the hookers and junkies coming back to LIC. Incase everyone forgot the police cleaned that all up in conjunction with strong leadership. Im sure these guys are good people but they have no authority to stop anything. If things get out of control they still have to call the cops.
Ohkay 2 guards per shift, and when a group of 10,11 people fight these guys what you think is gona happen to the security?
Overtime funding for NYPD was suspended July 1, and being restored as of 9/1 per Monaghan’s interview with Channel 4.
I wish they wore neon colored tops in the night labeled security. I just do not trust the NYPD. Please notify local precincts that they are there to protect us and might be holding cell phones and flashlights. No weapons!!! Please a certified letter and save the receipt.
Not quite sure if I like this thug patrol. I’ve seen a lot of bad behavior from security and rent a cops over my life to know the potential for problems is great.
Men in uniform . Welcome to the neighborhood.
Isn’t it a government park?
Under the jurisdiction of the NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol.
Soooo yeah why isn’t law enforcement doing anything?
2 guards no mask, again Wear your Mask!!
Now… You’ll see that private policing is best policing. Two cities in the USA have it already; Detroit and over 100 years, San Francisco. Supreme Court case already ruled that government police doesn’t not protect the community. Government police protects government. Private police protects YOU!
They should be all wearing a face mask in the photo. Queens has the highest number of cases and deaths in all of NY. I was shocked when i googled it this morning. And the mayor secretly converted so many hotels into homeless shelters throughout western queens. I went to astoria yesterday to eat and there are all over the ditmars area. One just began cursing out my grandson as we walked by. No one cared though. I guess people are used to it over there.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/covid-deaths-percent-coronavirus-cdc
SIX PERCENT!
@John: The Blaze is not news it’s propaganda. This article is twisting stats to defend a failed Republican presidency. You need to educate yourself on how cause of death on a death certificate is determined by the ME.
Deaths due to COVID-19 may be misclassified as pneumonia or influenza deaths in the absence of positive test results, and pneumonia or influenza may appear on death certificates as a comorbid condition.
Additionally, COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to influenza-like illness, thus deaths may be misclassified as influenza. Thus, increases in pneumonia and influenza deaths may be an indicator of excess COVID-19-related mortality.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/tech_notes.htm#:~:text=Deaths%20due%20to%20COVID%2D,19%2Drelated%20mortality.
Now let’s give them the ability to carry a gun or shotguns like other security guards throughout the world who protect public and private spaces. In many cities in the world private security fill the gap when local police are either corrupt, enept or nonexsistent which is the case here and yeah many want to defund and not support the police. Lawlessness will become the norm. NYC will become Dodge city thanks to Mayor DiBlasio and councilperson Jimmy Van Bramer who has done nothing for this community, RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING 25 THOUSAND DIREXT JOB AND THOUSAND MORE IF IN DIREXT JOB BY OPPOSING AMAZON COMING TO LIC.
Oh right, they are too busy protesting.
We should have some patrolling Sunnyside too, except, aren’t we paying NYPD to do that already?
When your handcuff the police they can’t do their job.
I think as long as there’s no more murders the cops are ok
Please – Or they use it as an excuse “not” to do their jobs.
Brilliant move! Hiring Black security guards!
All the cops doing the murdering recently were white
94% of black males that are murdered are murdered by other black men.
Like you said, white people have basically nothing to fear, statistically.
You see most bias attacks, like over 90%, are committed by blacks and hispanics with most attack victims, basically all of them, being Asian, Jewish and caucasian. They don’t seem to get much coverage though which is very odd but regardless there is plenty to be concerned about if your paying attention.
I’m glad you’re concerned about the extrajudicial murders of black men by police. You also said “whatabout something else?”
Is actually the correct classification. Most of these high profile incidents get flamed by opportunists using 1/2 the facts but in the end they are often classified as justifiable by impartial jurors and courts. Few are criminal acts and in those cases the cops are sitting in jail. Why are some so afraid to let the system work? Is it that they don’t trust the system or they’re trying to sway the masses before the whole story is know. We all know it’s the latter.
And most of those commiting a crime and resiting arrest that lead a shooting were suspects with a criminal history or on drugs.
Don’t resist arrest, genius!
Hahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahah.
Good. If Dumblazio wants to let the criminals run wild, then people have to make arrangements for their own safety.
This is a direct rebuke to current failed liberal policies that run this city and state.
As usual you don’t know what you’re talking about. Private Security Outnumbers The Police In Most Countries Worldwide https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/08/31/private-security-outnumbers-the-police-in-most-countries-worldwide-infographic/amp/ The U.S. Department of Labor statistics claims that there are over 1.1 million private security guards in the U.S. compared to 666,000 police officers. Things are more even in Germany although private security still has the edge on the Polizei by a margin of 2,000 individuals.
Love it! Looking forward to meeting and thanking them! maybe pick up some coffee for them.